Diaphragm for batteries.



'No. 717,549. r PATENTED' JAN. 6, 1903. F. A. DECKER & W. P. DIVINE.

DIAPHRAGM FOR BATTERIES.

APPLIOA'EION FILED APR. 9, 1902.

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ATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. DECKER AND WILLIAM P. DIVINE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA; SAID DIVINE ASSIGNOB TO SAID DECKER.

DIAPHRAGM FOR BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,549, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed April 9, 1902. Serial No. 102,098. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK A. DECKER and WILLIAM P. DIVINE, residents of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in battery-cells, and has as its chief purpose the production of a compact cell of high efficiency and low resistance readily inserted and removed, permitting the ready insertion and removal of the electrodes and providing for the ready introduction and removal of the ex citant.

The nature and characteristic features of the improvements will more fully appear by reference to the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reinforced diaphragm or plate forming an element of our improved cell. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second form of reinforced diaphragm made in accordance with our improvements. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the linea iof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an additional form of reinforced diaphragm made in accordance with our improvements. Fig. 6 isa perspective view of an electrode-holder and reinforced diaphragm integrally formed. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a builtup cell constructed by joining together parts that have been separately molded. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cell integrally formed or molded and baked as a single piece. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line l0 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a holder adapted for use with diaphragms to be inserted therein in forming the cell, and Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12 12 of Fig. 11.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the diaphragms may consist of a plain thin body portion 1, having raised edges 1' integral therewith, the whole being preferably made of clay molded and baked, the body portion having the surfaces removed to provide a thin porous partition of low resistance for separating the battery fluids and permitting the ready flow of electric energy therethrough. Plates of this character may be directly applied to use in cells, or such molded forms may be joined and baked together for the production of a large plate, such as cannot be handled readily when molded integrally.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the diaphragms have the thin body portion 2, reinforced by intersecting ribs 2 and raised edges 2", or, as shown in Fig. 5, the body portion 3 may be provided with the sinuous reinforcing-ribs 3 and the raised edges 3". These reinforcing ribs and edges are preferably of the same material as the body portion, the whole being molded and bakedas an integer; but such reinforcing members may be made of other materialas, for instance, hard rubber-and secured to the porous plates, as by vulcanization.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the integrallyforrned holder anddiaphragm comprise the vertical guiding parts 4, having the grooves 4. adapted to receive an. electrode, a base 5, which may be provided with a conductor 5 for electrically connecting the electrode, and the diaphragm 6, having the reinforcing-ribs 6. A plurality of such constructions may be used for holding the respective anodes and cathodes and separating the excitants.

As shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the cell is formed with the sides 7, having the grooves 7 for holding a plate electrode and a notch 7 for conducting the outflow, the bottom 8 having the aperture 8, with the externallyprojecting nipple 8" and the internally-projecting nipple 8', and the porous diaphragms or walls 9, having the internal reinforcingribs 9. As shown in Fig. 8, these cups may be built up by molding them in two sections which are joined and baked together, or, as shown in Fig. 9, the cell may be molded as an integer. This construction has in its externally-projecting nipple means for securing a taper fit with a supply and discharge vconduit,'by which the excitant is delivered to the interior of the cell and through which such excitant is drawn oh when exhausted. The internally-projecting nipple extending above the bottom of the cell prevents the orificc from being stopped up by deposits in the it is desired to collect in the bottom of the cell, such as salts or bits of zinc.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the holder may be made independently of the diaphragms to comprise the vertical guiding portions 10 and the bottom 10, the guides having the grooves 11 for receiving the diaphragms 11 and the grooves 12 for receiving the electrode 12'. As in this construction a conducting-conduit 13 may be set in the bottom of the holder for electrically connecting the electrode and for supplying and withdrawing the excitant, the diaphragms, which are inserted and secured in these holders, if broken, can readily be replaced.

The diaphragms are preferably formed, as shown, with reinforcements or raised portions on one face only to facilitate the removal or reduction of the surfaces after the molded form has been baked.

In the operation of baking a thin plate the tendency to warp, crack, and glaze renders it impracticable to mold and bake the diaphragms as required for accomplishing our purposes. We have discovered that the efficiency is greatly increased and the resistance greatly reduced by molding and baking the diaphragms of greater thickness than required and thereafter reducing the surfaces (excepting the reinforcements) until a thin body of porous character is produced. This may be accomplished by grinding or sandblasting the diaphragms, excepting the edges and ribs, until the exterior surfaces are removed and a thin porous body reached.

It will be understood that the materials to be employed may be varied, as carbon diaphragms may be substituted for those of clay, and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention,we claim 1. A battery-diaphragm comprising a thin, porous body from which the whole or part of the original surface has been removed and reinforcing members for said body, substantially as specified.

2. A battery-diaphragm comprising a thin, porous body from which the whole or part of the original surface has been removed and reinforcing members having the same composition as said body and integrally formed therewith, substantially as specified.

3. A battery-diaphragm comprising a thin porous body from which the whole or part of the original surface has been removed and reinforcing-ribs extending in different directions across said body, substantially as specified.

4. A battery-diaphragm comprising a thin, porous body from which the whole or part of the original surface has been removed, in combination with guides for holding an electrode, substantially as specified.

5. A battery-diaphragm comprising a thin, porous body from which the Whole or part of the original surface has been removed, integrally formed with reinforcing-ribs and guides for holding an electrode, substantially as specified.

6. A battery electrode-holder comprising a cup having a bottom containing an aperture, vertical guides integrally connected with said bottom and ribbed diaphragms connected with said bottom and guides, substantially as specified.

7. A battery electrode-holder comprising a cup having a bottom, vertical guides connected with said bottom, and porous diaphragms connected with said bottom and guides, said diaphragms having the whole or part of their original surfaces removed, substantially as specified.

8. A battery electrode-holder comprising a cup having a bottom provided with an outwardly-extending nipple, vertical guides connected with said bottom, and porous diaphragms connected with said bottom and guides, substantially as specified.

9. A battery electrode-holder comprising a cup having a bottom provided with an inwardly-extending nipple, vertical guides connected with said bottom, and porous diaphragms connected with said bottoms and guides, substantially as specified.

10. A battery electrode-holder comprising a cup having its parts made of molded and baked clay, consisting of a bottom and sides connected with parallel plates forming porous diaphragms, said plates having the whole or part of their original surfaces ground off, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of April, A. D. 1902.

FRANK A. DECKER. WILLIAM P. DIVINE.

Witnesses:

PERCIVAL I-I. GRANGER, THOMAS S. GATES. 

